Casting his ballot, Rivlin expresses 'deep shame' at political morass

'We don't deserve this,' says president as he votes in Jerusalem for third time in less than a year; 'We don't deserve another awful and grubby election campaign like the one that ends today and we don't deserve this never-ending instability,' he says

Israelis were voting Monday in the country's unprecedented third election, deciding whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains in office despite his upcoming criminal trial or whether his rival and former IDF chief Benny Gantz can finally oust him after two previous attempts.

“This is normally a festive day, but the truth is that I don't feel like celebrating. I only a sense of deep shame when I face you, my fellow citizens,” the president said Monday.

"I participated in almost all of the country's elections," he said. "It was always a day meant to celebrate the democracy of Israel, today though I feel no festivity.

"We deserved no horrible election round like the one that ends today, we also do not deserve another unending period of instability."
Rivlin said that despite the tumultuous political period Israel has experienced, "we deserve a government that will work for us all, and so, no matter how you feel, I ask you to go and vote.

"Every vote is the right one. Every vote is your voice. Go out and make it heard. I very much hope that we meet again only in 2024, or at least that I won't see another election campaign as president of the country that is so dear to us all.”

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/BJGsUUcVL